Amateur-built CALIDUS accident near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, September 20, 2025
On September 20, 2025 at about 11:10 am local time, a 2018 amateur-built CALIDUS (gyroplane), registered N4779M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hopkinsville, Kentucky (Hopkinsville-Christian County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the gyroplane, which resulted in dynamic rollover and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2025 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Hopkinsville, Kentucky · Hopkinsville-Christian County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CALIDUS, built 2018
- Registration
- N4779M · registry record · serial C00525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the fifth touch-and-go landing, after the gyroplane accelerated to about 40 knots, it began to roll right. The pilot applied left cyclic; however, it was insufficient to arrest the roll. The gyroplane subsequently entered dynamic rollover to the right, and the main rotor impacted the runway. The gyroplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Dynamic rollover during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 157.7 hours in all; 11.7 in this make and model; 13.3 in the last 90 days; 4.8 in the last 30 days; 13.8 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 124.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 23, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914UL (piston); 140 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,505 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from HVC
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHVC 202335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/16 A2999 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N4779M Rollover
Photograph 2 –Damage Rear View
Photograph 3 – Rudder/Horizontal Stabilizer DamageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.